Wing History Museum Permanent Collection:
“Simon Wing: Father of
American Photography”
Stereo view, banner advertising ‘S. Wing Photographs, Ferrotypes, Tintypes’ etc., Washington Street, Boston MA c. 1869.
“Stereoview from Winter Street, Boston, with Old South Meeting House in the background. Simon Wing's 257 Washington Street banner high in the foreground. Wing's unique design for display banners was patented on May 5, 1868. Patent #77695.
In addition to Wing's 257 banner advertising Photographs, Ferrotypes, Tintypes etc., Wing's building sign "S. Wing's Ferrotypes," can be seen on the left. Based on other visible signs and the Boston city directories, this image dates c. 1869 to before the great Boston Fire of November 9, 1872, which destroyed much of the downtown area, including some of the buildings on the right side of this image.”
Mott-Cobb, Randel, et al. The Journal New England Journal of Photographic History. Photographic Historical Society of New England Inc., 2018. Polito, Ron, et al. The Journal New England Journal of Photographic History. Photographic Historical Society of New England Inc., 2022.
Yankee Multiplier Wing Camera
c. 1900
Simon Wing introduced The Multiplying Camera in 1861 based on his 1860 patent. Simon and his son Harvey continued to make improvements to the 1861 system in 1888 and 1900 as they expanded into the amateur market with new designs. The Yankee Multiplier was one of the cameras that Simon and Harvey Wing introduced in 1900, a lighter model that could accommodate other dry plate holders in addition to the one that accompanied the new unit. It was a handsome machine with a square wooden front and outstretched top sides. One of its improvements was a more compact storage drawer. The Yankee Multiplier was essentially the same system as the 1861 camera, but much lighter and simpler to operate by sliding the plate carrier up or down. This camera no longer needed a special holder with its attached “rack.” Now, any dry-plate holder could be inserted into the back. A Gasc & Charconnet 15861 landscape lens, distributed in Boston by sole agent G. Bryant.
Mott-Cobb, Randel, et al. The Journal New England Journal of Photographic History. Photographic Historical Society of New England Inc., 2018. Polito, Ron, et al. The Journal New England Journal of Photographic History. Photographic Historical Society of New England Inc., 2022.
Tintype photograph featuring Simon Wing holding 1892 presidential campaign ballot.
His platform included mail-in ballots, formation of unions, women's suffrage, equal rights, removal of the gold standard and pursuing renewable energy.
McNeil, Donna, and Shipps, Christina. There Has to Be Magic: The Art of Evelyn Kok. Maine Authors Publishing, 2017.
Anson Fosky, cabinet card
c. 1861.
Photograph 9x taken by Simon Wing with the Wing Multiplier Camera.
Simon Wing’s political involvement formally began when he was 21 years old and could cast his first ballot – voting for the anti-slavery ticket, which brought much ridicule from his fellow townsmen in Maine c. 1857. Campaigning for President of the United States in 1892, a generation after the end of the civil war Simon Wing said of equal access to voting rights, “if this principle was carried out it would do away with all and any need of ‘force bill.’ There is no doubt that the colored people in the South are terrorized at the ballot booth. But it is a question of whether or not interference of armed soldiers would greatly help the situation. It would be another kind of terrorism and not a good solution to the situation.” A man who lived his words, in three extant Wing photographs we see images of the same man recorded over time. The man was Anson Fosky, who escaped slavery when still a teenager. Simon hired Anson for life, entrusting him as caretaker of the Wing country home in Newton, Lower Falls, just west of Boston, MA. Representing a more egalitarian aspect of race relations in America at the time, a series of four photographs, including this cabinet card on exhibition are a visual record of Simon’s sense of empathy and social responsibility.
McNeil, Donna, and Shipps, Christina. There Has to Be Magic: The Art of Evelyn Kok. Maine Authors Publishing, 2017.
Cabinet card of Anna Wing Towne and Alma Whitney taken at their "Towne & Whitney Studio" in Gardner, MA c. late 1860s early 1870s.
Simon Wing’s daughter Anna was a photographer. Anna Wing married Willis Towne who was also a photographer. The couple had two children, Anna and Willis Harvey Towne. The Townes opened a photography studio in Boston where Willis soon began an affair with one of his employees. Anna Wing divorced Willis who was dubbed by his father-in-law Simon Wing, the "Black Snake."
Anna then opened her own photography studio in Athol, MA specializing in children's portraiture. She was one of the first American women to have her own photography business. She met Alma Whitney and the two went into business together opening "Towne & Whitney Studio" in Gardner, MA. The pair eventually trained Anna's daughter, Anna Towne, to become a photographer. Anna and Alma became life partners, dressing, living, traveling together. Anna and Alma are buried together.
Bottom right of the cabinet card includes a signature indicating "Towne Whitney, Gardner, MA."
McNeil, Donna, and Shipps, Christina. There Has to Be Magic: The Art of Evelyn Kok. Maine Authors Publishing, 2017.
Mott-Cobb, Randel, et al. The Journal New England Journal of Photographic History. Photographic Historical Society of New England Inc., 2018. Polito, Ron, et al. The Journal New England Journal of Photographic History. Photographic Historical Society of New England Inc., 2022.
Demonstration of the Wing Multiplier Camera’s images on tin. Each frame captures a different pose. Mary Elizabeth Merril Wing is the sitter c. 1800s.
Seventy-two untrimmed tintype images capturing the perpetually posing Mary Elizabeth Merrill Wing. The 7.25 x 10 inch sheet was made using a Wing Multiplying Camera. Luckily for Mary, the introduction of the multiplying camera made the sitting experience far shorter than it would have been for six dozen images taken on separate plates.
McNeil, Donna, and Shipps, Christina. There Has to Be Magic: The Art of Evelyn Kok. Maine Authors Publishing, 2017.
Mott-Cobb, Randel, et al. The Journal New England Journal of Photographic History. Photographic Historical Society of New England Inc., 2018. Polito, Ron, et al. The Journal New England Journal of Photographic History. Photographic Historical Society of New England Inc., 2022.
Stereo Tintype
c. 1866
Family portrait of Simon and Mary Elizabeth Merrill Wing with children Anna and Harvey. The stereo tintypes are mounted under a thick pebbled mat with cutouts rimmed in gold. 2017.1.86.9.
Mott-Cobb, Randel, et al. The Journal New England Journal of Photographic History. Photographic Historical Society of New England Inc., 2018.
Rare tintype, hunting scene
c. late 1800s early 1900s.
Features the Cutting family, Harvey T. Wing's in-laws, and friends with rifles and a dog.
Gold brooch with tintype of dog Goldie
c. late 1800s, early 1900s.
Gold brooch with tintype photo of Eva Cutting Wing’s beloved dog “Goldie” made by her husband Harvey T. Wing.
Harvey T. Wing patented camera
c. 1914.
Shown here is Harvey T. Wings' 1914 patented camera, four years after Simon Wing’s passing in 1910. The pebbled black sealskin covering has worn poorly over the years, but the delicate black curtain slide has retained its functionality for quickly opening and closing of the unit. Harvey fashioned this camera to be rapid firing. It is a much smaller version of the Wing Multiplier Camera that Simon Wing had patented in 1860 and the father son duo had improved upon in 1888 and 1900 with new market designs. One of four known in existence.
McNeil, Donna, and Shipps, Christina. There Has to Be Magic: The Art of Evelyn Kok. Maine Authors Publishing, 2017.
Mott-Cobb, Randel, et al. The Journal New England Journal of Photographic History. Photographic Historical Society of New England Inc., 2018. Polito, Ron, et al. The Journal New England Journal of Photographic History. Photographic Historical Society of New England Inc., 2022.
Tintype of Harvey T. Wing in band costume with coronet
c. late 1800s early 1900s.
Harvey T. Wing loved music and referred to the instrument as his "cornet." Harvey organized and played in the Old Time Orchestra based in Revere and Arlington, MA. The orchestra played concert music and old-time dances for the public.
Polito, Ron, et al. The Journal New England Journal of Photographic History. Photographic Historical Society of New England Inc., 2022.
Tintype photo, Harvey T. Wing and friend in bathing costumes at Nantasket Beach, MA 1894.
Information not available.
S. Wing & Co. photo of elderly Simon Wing standing in front of the traveling Wing Photo Studio wagon c. late 1800s early 1900s.
“Simon Wing’s traveling photo-car parked in front of “John Berner’s Pavillion,” date and location unknown. Note photographic display cases at each end of the wagon; figures at front are Simon Wing and an unidentified woman and child.” Polito, Ron, et al. The Journal New England Journal of Photographic History. Photographic Historical Society of New England Inc., 2022.
Cabinet Card,, S. Wing & Co 478 Washington Street Boston featuring Simon Wing and grandchildren Cora Elsie Wing (L) and Hazel Wing (R) c. 1890s.
On the backside of the card “Maple House Inn” is written, located in Maynard, MA (2017.1.148), c. 1890s.
The Wing History Museum's permanent collection features Simon Wing (1829-1910), a 19th century daguerreotypist, inventor, international entrepreneur, and radical politician.
On display are several of Simon’s studio cameras (several of which were patented), and hundreds of rare, intimate family images and photographs. The collection documents seven generations of his children and their descendants who all inherited his artistic and rebellious spirit.
As a founding member of the American Socialist Labor Party, Simon Wing was their first candidate to run for President of the United States in 1892. His platform included mail-in ballots, formation of unions, women's suffrage, equal rights, removal of the gold standard and pursuing renewable energy. Simon's handwritten campaign speeches are undergoing archival preservation and will be on display soon.
This rare, vast private collection remained with Simon Wing's direct descendants until 2016. The generous contributions of Wing family members allowed for the creation of the Wing History Museum to share this unique collection with the public.